Museum of Underwater Life and Submerged History

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Belém > Pedrouços

Location:

This museum is located in the Pedrouços area, part of the well-known Belém district, in Lisbon. Its location by the Tagus River and its proximity to areas linked to nautical activities reflect the museum's theme, focused on the sea and submerged history.

Origin and Purpose

The genesis of this museum space dates back to the activities of the Portuguese Centre for Underwater Activities (CPAS), an entity with a long history since 1953. Over the years, CPAS gathered a vast collection of objects and specimens that formed the basis of its collections. In 1969, with the aim of creating a museum dedicated to the theme, this collection was handed over to the Lisbon City Council.

The museum was conceived to bridge different fields of knowledge: marine life, the history of human interaction with the aquatic environment, and underwater archaeology. Thus, it aims to disseminate and preserve the rich heritage found underwater.

Featured Collections

The museum's collection invites exploration of the underwater world through different perspectives. A significant part of the collections is dedicated to marine life, showcasing a diversity of species found in the sea and rivers, such as shells (tropical and from the Portuguese coast), corals, sponges, bryozoans, and well-preserved fossils.

Another fundamental core addresses submerged history and humanity's connection to the aquatic environment throughout the centuries. Here, visitors can find archaeological pieces recovered from the seabed and rivers, including artifacts from shipwrecks and underwater archaeological sites. Part of the collection also includes the diving equipment that enabled the recovery of these historical elements.

A Developing Space

Currently, the museum is housed in temporary facilities at the headquarters of the Portuguese Centre for Underwater Activities. Although it is an institution in its creation and development phase, its collections are available for those who wish to deepen their knowledge of underwater heritage.

Visits to this space are generally possible by prior appointment, allowing for more direct contact with the collection and the themes covered, from marine biology to underwater archaeology.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt